welcome to wpt won't. tonight, reverse course. the u.s. does an about face on a bush-era missile defense plan. the russians are applauding. allies are angry. prime suspect. a lab technician has been charged with murder in the death of a yale graduate student. dos and continues. a leading researchers says what you eat and when can make all the difference in dieting. mary travers. remembering the singer who provided harmony in a time of disinnocence. and, president obama presents his first medal of and, president obama presents his first medal of honor. captions paid for by abc, inc.

good evening. president obama said today, he is going to reverse a key defense policy drawn up by the bush administration, that he's come to a decision that will change the way the u.s. addresses the threat of a nuclear attack from iran. the president said he's going to scrap plans for a long range missile defense system in europe that the russians found threatening and he's going to replace it with a system that he said would be better, cheaper and more mobile. jake tapper explains what all of this means. and he's at the white house tonight. jake? >> reporter: good evening, charlie. the president's announcement caught many members of congress and u.s. allies off guard. president obama today proposed a dra plattic change to missile defense to reflect what he called new threats. >> our new missile defense architecture in europe will provide stronger, smarter and swifter defenses of american forces and america's allies. >> reporter: in 2006, the bush administration announced plans to place ten land-based

interceptors in poland, and a radar system in the czech republic to take on the threat of missimilars from iran. new assessments indicate that iran is struggling with the technology for long-range intercontinental ballistic missiles. instead, they are growing their short range missiles faster than anticipated. >> the reality is, we're dealing with hundreds of missimilars. >> reporter: republicans on capitol hill attacked today's announcement as turning a blind eye to the iranian threat. >> how many times have the, quote, intelligencest maments been wrong? dating back to and including the cold war. as many times as they've been right. >> reporter: and there are concerns this would be seen as blinking in the face of fierce russian opposition to the original defense shield, were echoed in europe. >> in russia it will be seen as a victory. >> reporter: the russian president said he applauded the show of cooperation. but the white house insists

russia's views played no role in the decision, and the pentagon argues this new proposal will better protect u.s. allies. >> those who say we are scrapping missile defense in europe are either misinformed or misrepresenting the reality of what we are doing. >> reporter: the administration argues the missiles, on ships and land in the region, will be largely mobile and adaptable to threats. and because these missiles are much cheaper, so the u.s. will have more of them, a stronger deterrent. >> reporter: and charlie the announcement comes one week before the president convenes a summit in new york city on nuclear non-proliferation where he hopes for support from russia, and help in removing iran's nuclear weapons program. charlie? >> jake, right there, you make the point that the u.s. wants russian help to end the iran nuclear initiative. the russians objected to the system. is there a quid pro quo system? >> reporter: the white house insists there was no quid pro

quo. they say russian opinions on the missile defense system have nothing to do with their decision, but they acknowledge when pressed that this couldn't hurt. >> all right, jake tapper at the white house tonight, thank you. on capitol hill today, more focus on the increasingly sharp edge in political rhetoric these days. the speaker of the house, nancy pelosi, said today she is worried that angry worlds being directed at and spoken by politicians could lead to violence. >> i have concerns about some of the language that is being used because i saw -- i saw this myself, in the late '70s in san francisco, this kind of rhetoric, was very frightening, and it created a climate in which we -- violence took place. >> pelosi represents san francisco, where harvey milk and george mosconi were gunned down in city hall 30 years ago. the chairman of the national

republican congressional committee, pete sessions, said the speaker's statement was insulting and called it a verbal assault on voters. police arrested a yale university lab technician today and charged him with the murder of annie le. raymond clark made a brief court appearance this afternoon, but did not enter a plea. bail was set at $3 million. david muir is in new haven this evening. david? >> reporter: charlie, we have learned that raymond clark is being held in a maximum security prison here in connecticut. it comes just hours after authorities swiftly move in and arrested the lab technician who worked in the same building annie le did her research. tonight's he's charged with murder. just after 8:00 this morning, fbi agents raced up the backstairs of this motel 8 in cromwell, connecticut. they were headed for room 214, where raymond clark spent the night with his father.

the arrest came just over 24 hours after police obtained dna samples from clark. sources tell abc news the forensics lab worked around the clock looking for a match from evidence seized at the yale laboratory. clark was arraigned just two hours later for murder. >> a few minutes ago, raymond j. clark iii of connecticut was arrested at a motel. >> reporter: the seemingly sudden chain of events came after days of surveillance. authorities began zeroing in on clark after studying 70 cameras and 300 pieces of evidence. among the most crucial, abc news has learned, are the access cards used to get into the building and from room to room, "the hartford courant" reports, "after entering the building, le passed through the basement, then swiped her way into a separate room. her card never used again." it's now believed clark swiped his way into that room, too. abc news has learned he was in and out of the building ten times or more in the hours surrounding her disappearance. and sources tell us there were e-mails or text messages between

clark and le. that clark, at one point, had complained to le about the condition of the mice cages in the lab, that they'd been left dirty. it was his job, as technician, to clean them. in those texts, he suggested the two of them meet. renowned forensics expert dr. henry lee, who helped advise the forensics team, said this arrest likely came after a dna match. when you heard of that arrest this morning, did that say to you right away, there must have been a dna match? >> yes, i know dna had a match. and of course, it's a relief. this case is a sad case, a young lady was murdered. >> reporter: now, the police chief here reiterated again today that he does not believe that le and clark had any kind of romantic relationship at any point in the past. in fact, charlie, he described the relationship this way. she was a ph.d candidate, he a lab technician. they would pass in the halls here. >> david, thank you. a verdict was rushed late

today in a trial of a high school football coach accused in a player's death during a tough practice on a hot day. and this is a case that was matched by high schools across the country. a jury in kentucky found jason stinson not guilty in the death of the 15-year-old player, and deliberations that lasted only 90 minutes. eric horng is in louisville. >> reporter: the coach ordered the students to run sprints. >> a child died on a football field. he was run to death. he needed a break. >> reporter: witnessed testified players were vomiting and crying as the coach hurled insults, pressuring the boys to keep running. >> was this a boot camp? was this the nfl? what lessons was he teaching these kids? >> reporter: two players collapsed, one of them gilpin, his body temperature topping 109 degrees. >> as a heat-related illness, he is the most critical patient

i've seen. >> reporter: gilpin died three days later, but the defense said his death wasn't stinson's fault, that the coach was simply doing his job, getting his players in shape. >> this man is innocent. >> reporter: some of gilpin's teammates testified they were allowed to rest between sprints, and given water before running. the defense arked gilpin's adhd medicine likely contributed to his high temperature, and others said the teenager felt sick before the practice. >> no way, no how, didn't happen. >> reporter: stinson's acquittal comes to the relief of coaches around the country, who feel this case could change what it means to be a coach. eric horng, abc news, louisville, kentucky. overseas, in afghanistan today, a suicide bomber rammed his vehicle into a convoy of italian troops. six soldiers were killed and four others wounded in the deadliey esiest attack on itali forces. the 2800 troops in afghanistan

will remain stationed there. and in washington, president obama awarded his first medal of honor today. army sergeant jared monti was honored for gallantry in afghanistan. in 2006, he was leading a patrol of 16 men. they were attacked by a force four times their size. monti tried three times to rescue a wounded member of his team. >> for a third time he ran toward his fallen comrade. said his patrol leader, it "was the bravest thing i had ever seen a soldier do." >> reporter: monti was killed by a protect-propelled grenade. but firepower he called in broke up the attack. monti's parents accepted his award. like his dad, monti had wanted to become a school teacher. and sergeant jared monti's family has shared photos, videos and stories with us. you can see more about this at our blog "the world newser" at abcnews.com.

still ahead on "world news," small businesses struggling with huge challenges. how they're managing, a year after economic collapse. our series, "where things stand." break through research about controlling hunger. a leading doctor makes discoveries about telling your brain when to stop eating. and, perfect harmony. remembering mary travers. this is one way of getting vitamins and minerals. this is another. new total blueberry pomegranate cereal gives you 100% of the daily value of 12 essential vitamins and minerals. plus the bold new taste of blueberries and pomegranate with crispy whole grain flakes and crunchy oat clusters. total, a truly delicious way to get vitamins and minerals. how are you getting 100%? visit totalcereal.com and get a free sample.

visit totalcereal.com and my dog bailey and i love to hang out in the kitchen... so she can watch me cook. you just love the aromas of beef tenderloin... and, ooh, rotisserie chicken. yes, you do. [ barks ] yeah. you're so special, you deserve a very special dog food. [ woman ] introducing chef michael's canine creations. the deliciously different way to serve up your love at mealtime. chef-inspired. dog-desired. chef michael's canine creations. ok, if you're thinkin' about gettin' a new truck... this is your lucky day. make that month. 'cause it's ford truck month. and that means savings on the best selling trucks 32 straight years. fortunately, luck has nothing to do with getting... a heck of a great deal on a brand spanking new ford super duty. plus, ford credit is there to help you with the financing. lucky you to get zero percent apr for 60 months or 5000 cash back on an '09 super duty. so, to hit it big on every built ford tough truck... forget vegas. it's truck month! only at your local ford dealer.

and i was so tender o the touch-- but i didn't know why. my doctor diagnosed it a fibromyalgia. and then he ecommended lyrica... fibromyalgia is thought .to be the result of over-active nerves that cause chronic, widespread pain. lyrica is .fda-approved to help relieve the unique pain of fibromyalgia. so now, i'm learning what a day islike with less pain. lyrica is not for veryone. tell your doctor about any serious allergic reaction that causes swelling or affects breathing or skin, or changes in eyesight including blurry vision or muscle pain with fever or ired feeling. lyrica may cause suicidal " thoughts or actions in a very small numbr of people. some of the most common side efects of lyrica are dizziness, sleepiness, weight gain and swelling of hands, legs, and feet. do not drink alcohol while taking lyrica. you should not drive or operate machinery until you know how lyrica affects you. could your pain be caused " by fibromyalgia? ask your doctor about lyrica today.

small business is the engine that drives america's economy. but what happens when that engine stalls? this week, we're checking on the state of small businesses, a year after the financial collapse. 595,000 small businesses were forced to close last year, and the number is expected to be even steeper this year. abc's bianna goal rod ree gee checked back with small businesses that we were with in the past year in our series "where things stand." >> reporter: in the quaint west texas town of odessa, cowboy hats aren't just an accessory, they're a staple. so when sales came to a virtual stand still at master hatters last year, owner jerry cook knew this wasn't an ordinary downturn. >> i have to cut my workforce better than a third. a lot of these people have been with me 17, 18 years. >> reporter: we went back to

j jargarland this week. >> everything was so bad last fall, that we were really hitting, really a low point. >> reporter: jerry cook not only cut his work force, he cut his work week. travel was replaced with teleconferencing. a year ago, in queens new york, wayne sosa thought he might have to close shop. >> everybody has to pitch in a little bit more and get the job done with perhaps more people and less tools to work with. >> reporter: his company, worksman cycles, makes heavy due tie bicycles for big business. primarily the auto industry. >> obviously, they're the ones who have been hit the hardest by all of this and it's affecting their purchasing of our products. >> reporter: so much so, that sosin has taken a pay cut and laid off 10% of his workforce. he's not alone. over the past year, small business owners have laid off 2.5 million americans. one advantage small business owners have is more

exflex ability. in order to sure vie the tough economy, they'd have to think outside of the box and look for some business opportunities in some very unlikely places. like this local zoo, they're about to place their second order. so, is it fair to say, with crisis came opportunity for you? >> crisis forced us to find some alternatives, and i guess some of those you can call opportunities, yes. >> reporter: not everyone has been able to make things work. last september, mats elmstrom owner of la based aquafit spas, told us he was about to go under. today the store is closed and has been turned in to a clinic. and since we met debbie miller last october in dayton, ohio, she has had a tough time running the upper deck tavern. the gm plant across the street closed and her best customers disappeared. without a $180,000 loan to keep the restaurant afloat, she'll likely have to close. but for those small business owners who are still powering along, the future looks a little brighter. economic confidence among small

business owners is at its highest level in 18 months. we found small signs of hope. worksman cycles has rehired devin velaidam after laying him off four months ago. 's good to be back. >> reporter: back in odessa, master hatters is bullish about the future. >> i mean, there's always gonna be cowboys, right? >> reporter: bianna golodryga, abc news, new york. >> there will always be cowboys. and tomorrow we catch up with auto workers who lost their jobs and hear the inspiring ways they've changed course over the past year. coming up, revolutionary diet research. control your hormones and control your weight. building my life, my high cholesterol was contributing to plaque buildup in my arteries. that's why my doctor prescribed crestor. she said plaque buildup in arteries is a real reason to lower cholesterol. and that along with diet, crestor does more than lower bad cholesterol, it raises good.

crestor is also proven to slow the buildup of plaque in arteries. crestor isn't for everyone, like people with liver disease, or women who are nursing, pregnant, or may become pregnant. simple blood tests will check for liver problems. you should tell your doctor about other medicines you are taking, or if you have muscle pain or weakness. that could be a sign of serious side effects. while you've been building your life, plaque may have been building in your arteries. find out more about slowing the buildup of plaque at crestor.com. then ask your doctor if it's time for crestor. announcer: if you can't afford your medication, astrazeneca may be able to help. or the worry my pipes might leak... compromise what like to do..., like hunting for bargains, not always bathrooms. i take care with vesicare. (announcer) " once-daily vesicare can help control your bladder muscle and is proven to reduce frequent,

sudden urges and leaks... day and night... if you have certain stomach or glaucoma problems, or trouble emptying " your bladder, do not take vesicare. tell your doctor right away if you have a serious allergic reaction, severe abdominal pain, or become constipated .for three or more days., vesicare may cause blurred vision, so take care while driving or doing unsafe tasks. common side effects are dry mouth, constipation, and indigestion. you deserve better than to always be compromised y urges and leaks., ask your doctor today about taking care with vesicare. should we order panda blossom, panda moon... how about chinese at home with new wanchai ferry? u can make it in just 14 minutes mmmh, orange chicken. great. i didn't feel like going out anyway (announcer) wanchai ferry. restaurant quality chinese in your grocer's freezer you hard... coughing) ...hit right back. with theraflu # warming relief...

for powerful relief f your worst... ...flu symptoms. theraflu. good to be back. some items "on the money" tonight. the overall net worth of american households is up for the first time in two years. a $2 trillion increase in the second quarter, helped by rising stock prices. bernie madoff's long island beach house being sold by the felts has found a buyer. it's under contract for more than the $8.75 million asking price. and, on southwest airlines, no more lemons in drinks on its planes. the airline claims that will save $100,000 a year.

next, health news, and important new research that promises to help millions of americans struggling with their weight. one of the country's leading experts is out with findings explaining why so many diets fail. as john mckenzie reports, it all has to do with the body's own keeps to controlling hunger. >> reporter: it seems so simple, want to lose weight? just eat less. but millions of americans cannot. >> the problem is hormones. the chemicals that signal the brain to stop eating. in some people, these get so severely out of whack that people are constantly hungry. >> reporter: dr. louis aronne says these hormones, leptin, ghrelin, insulin and cortisol can be controlled and most people can lose weight, by following a few basic rules. avoid appetite stimulants, foods that actually increase hunger. sweets, potatoes, juices, which are loaded with sugar. bread, especially processed white bread.

and alcohol before meals. bread and alcohol, when they're consumed on an empty stomach can actually stoke your appetite. if you can wait until the middle of the meal, you can actually reduce the amount of food you're going to eat. >> reporter: avoid refined cereals. >> one of the most common mistakes we see is people eating instant oatmeal, or other popular cereals for breakfast, >> they're so refined, people are left even hungrier? >> that's it. >> reporter: many researchers insist protein is essential for breakfast. one study found people who ate protein rich egg-white omelets consumed 44% less during the rest of the day than those who ate instant oatmeal for breakfast. other protein options -- low-fat cheese and peanut butter. throughout the day, the message remains -- lots of protein from fish and chicken and fiber from vegetables, whether cooked or in a salad, to help suppress the appetite. losing weight can be a lifelong struggle. but by avoiding some common dieting mistakes, americans at

least have a fighting chance at slimming down. john mckenzie, abc news, new york. and up next, we listen to mary travers, icon of a and up next, we listen to mary travers, icon of a generation. suddenly you see built ford tough trucks! the ground starts rumblin' like you just struck oil, and you know what? you did hit pay-dirt cause it's ford truck month. an' leading this herd is the ford f-150. it's not just a truck it's an f-150. and with great power comes great fuel economy. no wonder it was named 2009 motor trend truck of the year. now get 0 percent apr for 60 months or 45 hundred cash back on an 09 f-150. and ford credit is on board to help with the financing. it's truck month! only at your local ford dealer. i'm from fayetteville, north carolina, ...and i smoked for 29 years. the one thing about smoking - is it dominates your life, and it dominated mine. and the sad thing about it is that you can always use an excuse if cigarettes don't kill me, oh well - something else will.

but, you can't use that as an excuse. i honestly loved smoking, and i honestly didn't think i would ever quit. it was very interesting that you could smoke on the first week. chantix gave me that extra help that i needed to get through a tough time. (announcer) chantix is a non-nicotine pill. in studies, 44% of chantix users were quit during weeks 9 to 12 of treatment, compared to 18% on sugar pill. it is proven to reduce the urge to smoke. i did have an unopen pack of cigarettes in my purse and then i think i opened my purse and realized it was still there. and i said, "what the heck, i don't need these..." ...i said, you know, "bye, i don't need you anymore, you're not my crutch, i don't need a crutch." (announcer) talk to your doctor about chantix and a support plan that's right for you. some people have had changes in behavior, hostility, agitation, depressed mood and suicidal thoughts or actions while taking or after stopping chantix.

if you notice agitation, hostility, depression or changes in behavior, thinking or mood that are not typical for you, or if you develop suicidal thoughts or actions, stop taking chantix and call your doctor right away. talk to your doctor about any history of depression or other mental health problems, which can get worse while taking chantix. some people can have allergic or serious skin reactions to chantix, some of which can be life threatening. if you notice swelling of face, mouth, throat or a rash stop taking chantix and see your doctor right away. tell your doctor which medicines you are taking as they may work differently when you quit smoking. chantix dosing may be different if you have kidney problems. the most common side effect is nausea. patients also reported trouble sleeping and vivid, unusual or strange dreams. until you know how chantix may affect you, use caution when driving or operating machinery. chantix should not be taken with other quit smoking products. as a non-smoker it's wonderful. the best thing that ever happened. the best thing i have ever done

besides my husband, and dogs, and family. with the chantix and with the support system, it worked. it worked for me. (announcer) talk to your doctor to find out if prescription chantix is right for you. finally tonight, remembering mary travers. she died last night after a long battle with leukemia. mary's name is forever linked with peter and paul, and the harmonies of that trio spoke for a generation, caught up in the turmoil of the vietnam era. their music spoke to that age, but their music and her voice are timeless. ♪ how many times must a cannon

ball fly ♪ >> music is kind of a around the campfire kind of music. it gives comfort to a dark night. ♪ the answer my friend is blowing in the wind ♪ ♪ the answer is blowing in the wind ♪ >> folk singers know about the complex issues about vietnam. like most people, we only know what we feel in our hearts. ♪ brothers and sisters ♪ all in this land >> she understood that a song could really make a difference in the world. there was always a message under there that came with it, and that was just as important as the melody itself. ♪ i'm leaving ♪ on a jet plane ♪ don't know when i'll be back again ♪

♪ i hate to go ♪ puff the magic dragon ♪ lives by the sea ♪ and frolics in the autumn mist ♪ ♪ in the land where have all the flowers gone ♪ ♪ long time passing ♪ ♪ where have all the flowers gone ♪ ♪ long time ago >> her music remains. and that is "world news" for this thursday. i'm charlie gibson, and i hope you had a good day. for all of us at abc news, have you had a good day. for all of us at abc news, have a good night. captions by vitac